His Excellency, The Most Reverend

Joseph A. Burke
Bishop of Buffalo
titular bishop of Vita
DioceseBuffalo
In office1952–1962
PredecessorJohn F. O'Hara
SuccessorJames A. McNulty
Orders
OrdinationAugust 3, 1912
by Charles H. Colton
ConsecrationJune 29, 1944
by Amleto Giovanni Cicognani
Personal details
Born(1886-08-27)August 27, 1886
Buffalo, New York, US
DiedOctober 17, 1962(1962-10-17) (aged 76)
Rome, Italy
BuriedAt the chapel at Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora
DenominationCatholic
EducationCanisius College
University of Innsbruck
MottoLet your will be done

Joseph Aloysius Burke (August 27, 1886 – October 16, 1962) was an American prelate of the Catholic Church who served as bishop of the Diocese of Buffalo, New York from 1952 until his death in 1962.

Biography

Early life

Joseph Burke was born in Buffalo, New York, to Joseph S. and Amelia (née Howard) Burke.[1] The son of a boilermaker, he wanted to enter the priesthood since the age of six.[2] He attended Canisius High School and Canisius College, both in his native city.[3] He made his theological studies at the University of Innsbruck in Austria.[3]

Priesthood

Returning to Buffalo, Burke was ordained a priest by Bishop Charles H. Colton on August 3, 1912.[4] During World War I, Burke was attached as an Army chaplain to the 91st Division of the US Army on the Belgian front.[1] After the war, he served as a curate and pastor in the Diocese of Buffalo, and as a teacher at Mount Carmel Guild and at D'Youville College in Buffalo.[3]

Auxiliary Bishop and Bishop of Buffalo

On April 20, 1943, Burke was appointed titular bishop of Vita and the first auxiliary bishop of Buffalo by Pope Pius XII.[4] He received his episcopal consecration on June 29, 1943, from Archbishop Amleto Cicognani, with Archbishop Thomas Walsh and Bishop Edmund Gibbons serving as co-consecrators.[4] He selected as his episcopal motto, "Let Your Will Be Done".[5] Following the death of Bishop John A. Duffy in September 1944, Burke served as apostolic administrator of the diocese until the appointment of Bishop John O'Hara in March 1945.[1]

When O'Hara was later promoted to Archbishop of Philadelphia, Burke was named to succeed him as the ninth bishop of Buffalo on February 9, 1952.[4] He was the first native son of the diocese to become its bishop.[5] His installation took place on April 30, 1952.[2] During his 10-year-long administration, Burke gave his support to various groups, including the Holy Name Society, missions, the Pre-Cana program, Puerto Rican migrants, and displaced persons.[5] He also continued the expansion and construction of educational institutions, including St. John Vianney Seminary in East Aurora, New York.[5] He was made an assistant at the pontifical throne in 1956, and a commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 1960.[1]

Death and legacy

At age 76, Joseph Burke died in Rome on October 16, 1962, during the first week of the Second Vatican Council.[5] His death was the first among the bishops attending the council.[1] He was buried in the chapel of Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora.[5] His body was moved to St. Joseph Cathedral after the seminary was closed in 2020.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "BISHOP J.A. BURKE OF BUFFALO DEAD; Head of Diocese Since 1952 Is Strick in Rome". The New York Times. 1962-10-17.
  2. ^ a b "BURKE BISHOP OF BUFFALO; Ninth to Head Roman Catholic Diocese Is Enthroned". The New York Times. 1952-05-01.
  3. ^ a b c Curtis, Georgina Pell (1961). The American Catholic Who's Who. Vol. XIV. Grosse Pointe, Michigan: Walter Romig.
  4. ^ a b c d "Bishop Joseph Aloysius Burke". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Most Rev. Joseph A. Burke". Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo. Archived from the original on 2010-06-13.
Catholic Church titles Preceded byJohn F. O'Hara Bishop of Buffalo 1952–1962 Succeeded byJames A. McNulty Preceded by– Auxiliary Bishop of Buffalo 1943–1952 Succeeded by–
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